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Monday, October 19, 2015

Ban's letter to Hadi of Yemen: New round of talks "based firmly" on 2216

This letter was sent from the UNSG Ban Ki Moon to the Yemeni President Hadi on October 15, diplomats said.

15 October 2015

Excellency,

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your assurances
of support to the United Nations when we met on the margins of the General
Debate on 30 September 2015 in New York and as outlined in your letter of 7
October 2015. I particularly appreciate your determination to reach a peaceful
settlement of the conflict in Yemen and your intention to continue working to
that end with my Special Envoy, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

I recall that you have noted the importance of a clear
commitment by the Houthis and their allies to the implementation of United
Nations Security Council resolution 2216 (2015) before peace talks could
commence. My Special Envoy has actively encouraged the Houthis and their allies
to provide a clear statement of their acceptance of Security Council resolution
2216 (2015). Indeed, the consultations that the Special Envoy intends to
convene are based firmly on Security Council resolution 2216 (2015) and seek
agreements based on this and other relevant Security Council resolutions, the
Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and the Outcomes of the Comprehensive
National Dialogue Conference.

I have been assured by the Special Envoy that the Houthis have
conveyed their clear acceptance of Security Council resolution 2216 (2015) in
their recent discussions with him. Their recent letter addressed to me also
confirms this acceptance.

Based on this commitment, I trust that you will now be in a
position to authorize the participation of your Government in a new round of
consultations with the Houthis and their allies. To this end, I am requesting
my Special Envoy to travel to the region immediately to consult with all
parties on the venue and timing of the consultations.

I sincerely hope that a rapid end to the fighting and the return
of the country to a peaceful and orderly transition could be found through this
new round of consultations. Only in this way, can we ensure that the growing
loss of innocent lives is stopped and Yemenis are no longer subjected to the
terrible suffering which they have faced in recent months and years.

The National Dialogue Conference, which Your Excellency presided
over in 2013 and 2014, produced a vision for a new Yemen characterized by
inclusive governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law. I very much
hope that through these consultations, the country will start on its path out
of violence and back to this inspiring vision.